The freshman most likely to see action for Oregon football

Every season during media days and press availabilities in fall camp, Dan Lanning has used the phrase, "If you're good enough, you're old enough." In 2025, that phrase will be tested like never before.

Lanning's been reluctant to trust freshmen in key roles over his first three years as head coach. As a true freshman last year four-star wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan caught three passes for 24 yards. Five-star Elijah Rushing, high four-stars Ify Obidegwu, Aydin Breeland, Aaron Flowers and Jericho Johnson all played sparingly.

All six redshirted, though they all remained with the team through the portal and should step in to larger roles this season. So too Dillon Gresham, another four-star class of 2024 recruit who grabbed three passes in the spring game for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt linebackers Brayden Platt, Dylan Williams and Kamar Mothudi will be counted on to take places in the rotation as well.

At the same time true freshmen from the class of 2025 have a opportunity to contribute early after the Ducks sent 10 players to the NFL draft. Particular in the secondary, when ubertalents like five-star Na'eem Offord and four-star Trey McNutt have the body types and ball skills to crack the lineup with strong showings in August camp.

Freshman wide receiver Dakorien Moore seems a near-cinch to make an early impact after Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden departed for the League, especially with Evan Stewart down with a summer patellar injury. Replacing all that production requires someone to step up, some combination of Gary Bryant Jr., Malik Benson, Justius Lowe, tight end Kenyon Sadiq and the blue-chip youngsters.

With camp about three weeks away someone has to prove they can make plays, earning the trust of Dante Moore, Ross Douglas and Will Stein. Benson's a strong route-runner with great speed (10.4 in the 100 meters) who never found the right opportunity at Alabama or Florida State, a much better target than he showed in the spring game. Bryant's a proven veteran if he can stay healthy.

But Moore, Gresham, McClellan and Cooper Perry have next-level receiving skills and may be too good to hold down. Provided they study the playbook and understand their coverages, the time to trust them could be now.

On the offensive line the Ducks are stocked with veterans, seniors Isaiah World, Immanuel Pregnon, Alex Harkey and Matthew Bedford, redshirt junior Dave Iuli, junior returning starter Iapani Laloulu. Gunning for roles in the rotation are a pair of early enrollees, Ziyare Addison and Douglas Utu, four-star linemen with athleticism and good size.

There's always a possibility that an injury shuffles the deck, but a breakthrough season from Oregon's freshmen class is most likely to come from Dakorien Moore or Offord. They were the players most mentioned after practice this spring, with talent that pops on the highlight tape.

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